Saint Paul does not have a citywide plastic-straw ban, but the Climate Action and Resilience Plan encourages restaurants to provide straws only on request. Several Saint Paul restaurants follow this voluntarily.
Unlike California cities and Minneapolis-area pilots, Saint Paul has not adopted a binding plastic-straw ordinance. The 2019 Saint Paul Climate Action and Resilience Plan (CARP) identifies single-use plastic reduction, including straws, as a sustainability priority and encourages food establishments to adopt 'straw on request' practices. Many downtown and Grand Avenue restaurants comply voluntarily, switching to paper or compostable straws and providing them only when asked. Saint Paul Public Schools and city facilities have shifted to non-plastic straws in their cafeterias. State law preempts certain bans but does not block voluntary or fee-based programs by the city.
There is no enforceable straw-ban penalty in Saint Paul. Compliance with CARP recommendations is voluntary; ADA exemptions for accessible straws would apply if any future rule were adopted.
Saint Paul, MN
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Saint Paul, MN
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See how Saint Paul's plastic straw rules rules stack up against other locations.
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